Marvel! Quakes Open Season in 6 – goal Thriller

The Quakes flight of miraculous fight backs is so extraordinary it reads like a superheroes comic. Marvel at it. Or if you prefer religiosity, the football Gods are scratching their heads wondering out loud — what is going on down there on this humble pitch called Buck Shaw stadium? For empiricists, you can believe the stats — the Quakes have 17 second-half stoppage-time goals in all competitions since 2012, 15 of which have been of the game-tying or game-winning nature. Saturday night was the latest edition of wonder – a 95th minute tying goal by Victor Bernardez set off a sonic boom around the stadium. The crowd’s roar shivered the spine long after the final whistle.

Before being found, the Quakes looked lost. Opening day of the new season and trailing 3-1 at halftime. They resembled new employees on the first day of the job. Not sure of expressing themselves, nervous about what to do, and not wanting to ask any questions of their opponents, Real Salt Lake, last year’s losing MLS Cup finalists.

Then came the second half, the Quakes playing towards their support in Section 109, banked behind the goal. Substitutes, Alan Gordon, Khari Stephenson and JJ Koval transformed the feel, and the Quakes found the glue, passes began to stick and soon Salt Lake was dealing with an in-tray of Quakes attack. Steven Lenhart worked his butt off for the full 90 minutes, hassling defenders, and his striking partner, Alan Gordon, once again instrumental in forcing the goalie to make an error leading up to Bernardez’s equalizer. Kids — if you’re watching — you can learn much about what it takes to be a pro from these two strikers.

I watched the game from Section 109, the manor of the 1906 Ultras. Their rallying call ceaseless, a magnet, they pulled in the Quakes players like a tide. The Quakes players love it. You can see how much it means to them to score before the manor. It’s pretty special. Proof that when the support is fierce and close to the action, they influence the result.